For starters I'd like to thank all the readers who sacrifice their time and leave a review when they're finished with the chapter. Thanks to you guys I really feel that it's worth to keep writting. Now, lets answer the reviews from the previous chapter, shall we:
Ming - well, you asked you got it: this time around you'll be able to read Hinata's profile. I'm glad you liked the mist-nins... more about them later on. Also, you'll find out more about the shinobies in the hoods as well, but be patience with that. Thanks for taking your time to review
Hyde - you'll get to know the grass-nins a bit better thanks to this chappie. But I ensure you there's much more to them then what you'll learn in this part. Thanks for the review
Frankie - I won't tell you any details about Sasuke for now... read and find out. As for 'HIM'... you'll see in time. Thanks for your review
The Great Kage - thanks. I ensure you that there will be even more OC's. Hope you'll like them as well. Thanks for the review.
IMPORTANT NOTE: releasing chapter 5 can take me a while, coz I'm gonna be a bit busy till the end of the month and I still have other stories to write (one fic that some of you may already know, one that I'm planning to upload and few original stories). I'll try not to make you wait too long. No matter how it'll turn out I promise you one thing: this story will NOT be dropped!
Now, without further delays:
Chapter #4: The Tournament Begins
After three-day trip the ship reached a huge island. As Naruto gave it a quick look he spotted a giant volcano in the center of it, surrounded with few, other, smaller mountains. The coast was a beach covered with golden sand, but a little deeper into the island there was a jungle in which grew many types of trees.
As the ship got closer the Kyuubi vessel spotted a huge, stone building that kinda looked like a temple. It was around the size of the ship, but much higher. Above the main entrance to it there was a stone head of the tiger.
When the ship reached the shore all the shinobies headed to the building lead by few of the ship guards. Sakura looked around to see some of the contestants.
She spotted the group of sand-nins marching in front of them and other Konoha shinobies. There was Gaara and his team and a little to the left she noticed a man her age with long, black hair, dressed in a jet black robe. He was the one that the Sand siblings talked about. As she turned her eyes to his teammates she spotted a shorter person (most likely a girl) with long, blue hair clipped into a big bon, wearing yellow dress and a muscular looking man who had spiky, black hair and his hands were completely covered with bandages.
As she looked to her right she noticed the three mist-nins that they already met along with three, other Mist teams walking close to them. She also tried to spot Sasuke, but she wasn't able to. Probably he and his team walked at the end. There were teams from every country: some from the Stone, Rain, Grass, Cloud, even from smaller and not so well-known villages like the Hidden Mountain or Lake.
As they entered the building, they end up in a huge hall. The roof was supported by many columns and on the other end of the hall there was a platform on which few, older looking man stood. There wore forehead protectors but there was no symbol on them.
'Well, this is where we separate' announced Jiraiya quietly. 'You guys listen to rules and prepare yourselves coz the tournament will begin any time now.'
'Jiraiya-sensei…' Tenten stopped him in his tracks. '… when do we get to see you again?'
'Well… if you guys will make it till the last test, I guess we'll be able to met up again then' and with those words he was gone along with all, other jounins.
When all the gennins finally entered the hall one of the man standing on top of the platform walked forward. He had medium-length, red hair and was carrying a katana on his back. His left eye was pierced with and earring and he was wearing red shirt with wide sleeves and white pants.
'Welcome to Tora Island' he said out loud so that all the gennins gathered in the hall could hear him. 'My name is Hanasu Age and I'm one of the examiners for this year's Tiger Challenge. Beginning today you'll take part in the tournament. During the few, coming days we will test all of your basic, shinobi skills. We'll check how good your teamwork is, your information gathering skills, the ability to survive in the wild and of course your individual strength. During the time you're on this island, you'll have to obey my orders and the orders of other examiners, who're standing on the platform' all the gennins looked in the direction he pointed (A/N: except Shikamaru, who was too lazy to lift his head up). 'In case you're not aware of that, let me tell you that you carry your village reputation with you. Villages that will have their representatives in the final test will be consider as strong and will earn great respect. The village of this tournament winners will thought to be the strongest among all hidden villages and will surely get more missions and so on. The point of this challenge isn't really that different from the Chuunin Selection Exams organized throughout the world, but I'll tell you this right now: it's way harder here. You will not only have to fight against the shinobies from the allied countries but also from the villages you don't even know. And killing is allowed all the time, so even after the first test some of you might end up dead.'
Age looked around to see their reaction at his words. Some of the young gennins gulped hearing that, some smiled under their noses. He just smiled a little and then continued:
'Before we start the first test I'd like the leaders of every team to walk forward and pick a number from the box that I have in my hands' with those words he showed a medium size box with a small hole on top of it. 'Once every team will get their number, the tournament will officially begin. Now, may the team captains please walked forward?'
The first to walked out of the crowd where Sasuke, Gaara and the black haired sand-nin that the Sand siblings kept talking about. Soon after more and more gennins headed towards the box in order to take a number. Sasuke was the first to draw a number.
'Please tell me what number you got and which team you're on' asked Age as another man appeared right behind him with a little notebook.
'Number 74…' replied the Uchiha prodigy. 'The captain of the Otogakure team, consisting of Uchiha Sasuke, Akado Baita and Kinniku Gunko.'
The man with the notebook wrote that down and soon Gaara picked a number for his cell.
'Number 55, the team from the Hidden Sand consisting of: Sabaku no Gaara, Temari and Kankuro' announced the Shukaku vessel as he walked back to his siblings.
A boy with white hair and a forehead protector with a skull on it observed the red head with his black eyes, after which he reached for a number for his team.
'Number 31, team from Konoha Gakure, consisting of Tenten, Hyuuga Neji and Rock Lee' announced the Hyuuga genius as he looked at the number he drawn.
'Number 193, the captain of the Hidden Leaf team Inuzuka Kiba. My teammates are Hyuuga Hinata and Aburame Shino' said the dog ninja as he smiled under his nose.
'Go already, Shikamaru' Ino begged her teammate. 'One of us has to pick a number.'
'It's too troublesome' replied the lazy shinobi. 'Besides, why do I have to do it? Chouji's stronger then me. He should be the leader here.'
'You got the brains, you go' convinced the chubby ninja. 'And you're a chuunin after all…'
'I'm not going…' stated Shikamaru but at the very same Ino used her primary technique on him and headed for the box.
'You asked for it' she thought to herself as Chouji grabbed her real body.
'Number 986' announced a bald man in a monk-like, green dress and an Iwa forehead protector. 'Captain of the Iwa Gakure team, consisting of Jishi Burado, Shita Tsume and Gosai Kendo.'
'You know, one of you guys should go and fetch the number as well or you'll be disqualified' the pink-haired kunoichi heard a voice from behind.
As she turned around she spotted a Grass-nin with hazel eyes, black hair and a medallion with golden balls on his neck. Right behind him stood his two teammates.
'It would be a shame to fail because of that' and with those words he walked towards the box.
'He's right!' yelled Naruto as he began to walk right after the man but then he was stopped by the blade of one of Fukamaru's katana's.
'I'll go' he announced and without waiting for his teammates reaction he walked forward.
'Who the hell does he think he is?' yelled Naruto with an urge to kill. 'I'll kick your ass for this! I'm the leader of this team! You hear me?' and once he said that, he felt a punch on his head.
'Would you just shut up?' asked Sakura with a grim face.
'If Naruto was your leader, you guys would be in big trouble' laugh Kiba at the sight.
'Kiba-kun, don't say that' Hinata asked shyly.
'Number 258, the team from Konoha, consisting of Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji and the beautiful Yamanaka Ino!' came a voice from Shikamaru's mouth.
'She just couldn't help herself, could she?' thought Chouji with a sigh.
'Number 343, the team from Kirigakure, consisting of Nadare Renge, Arashi Shinkou and Oomizu Hisen' announced Shinkou as he walked past Fukamaru who almost reached the box. 'I hope you'll pick the number that will allow us to have our rematch… I'm counting on you' he whispered into his ear and walked back to his teammates.
Fukamaru reached for the box in order to draw a number. As he looked at the sheet, he announced:
'Number 13, team from Konoha Gakure, consisting of Haruno Sakura, Nadare Fukamaru and Uzu… something Naruto.'
After a few more people the drawing was finished. Age putted away the box and turned to all the gennins:
'Hope you remember what number you have. Now we will leave the hall, but before we do that I'd like all of you to look up there' he pointed above the platform and it was only then that the gathered shinobies noticed a big screen. 'The two teams that numbers will appear on it are to walk into that room…' with those words he pointed at the small door. '… and the tournament for them will begin. No matter their result of the test, they will no return to this hall. What awaits you behind those doors? Well, that is for you to find out. I wish you all good luck. That is all. Since this moment, the Tiger Challenge has officially started!' and saying so he disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.
'I wonder what's the first challenge?' Sakura thought out loud.
'Well, they ask two teams to enter the room at the same time, I suppose the answer is easy to figure out' replied the Grass-nin with the medallion.
'Who are you guys anyway?' asked Naruto, looking suspiciously at the three shinobies.
'Right, forgive my manners' the man bowed and announced: 'I'm Juutai Fugato, the girl with the brown hair is Hasaki Ayame and the one with the lizard on his shoulder is Tokage Kosha.'
'Hi!' Ayame said with joy, waving her hand. 'Nice to meet you!'
'Hello' replied Fukamaru. 'I'm Nadare Fukamaru, that is Haruno Sakura and the loud mouth is… what was your last name again?'
'It's Uzumaki Naruto dammit!' yelled the Kyuubi vessel. 'Can't you remember something that simple?'
'You're simple' responded the swordsman, not paying much attention to his teammate.
Naruto was about to throw a punch at the former mist-nin but in the very same time a loud 'BING' was heard and all the gennins turned their heads towards the screen. There, on it, two numbers were shown: 343 and 877.
The team of Shinkou, Renge and Hisen walked forward the door along with a team from the Kusagakure. As Fugato looked at his Grass comrades, he let out a sigh:
'Those mist-nins are in big trouble' he announced. 'We know those three. They're pretty cruel and more over, the one with the green hair is a member of one of Kusa's strongest clans…'
'I think it's those Grass-nins you should be worrying about' replied Fukamaru with a calm voice. 'No matter their strength, I'm positive that it's the Mist team that's going to pass. But lets leave that topic. Why are you so friendly with us?'
'Just because we're rivals doesn't mean we can't like each other, right?' asked Fugato.
'And besides, it's better to make friends then enemies!' yelled Ayame, jumping at the swordsman neck. 'Wouldn't you agree, Fuka-kun?'
Suddenly another 'BING' was heard and another two teams walked towards the door.
'The first fight is over already?' Shino seemed a bit surprised.
'One of those two teams was way stronger then the other, that's the only possibility' figure Lee. 'But it is surprising, gennins gathered here are the best in their villages after all.'
'That still doesn't change the fact that some teams are much stronger then others' reminded Temari. 'Remember that villages do not represent the same level and a team that is thought to be strong for one village can seem extremely weak for another.'
'That's true' nodded Sasuke. 'Back when I still was a Leaf shinobi I actually thought that you were strong, Lee' he said pointing at the Konoha Azure Beast. 'But now that I look at it, your level isn't that high really.'
'You know, people who are as confident as you can be divided into two groups:…' announced Fukamaru. '… they are either really strong or really stupid. I wonder which one of those are you in.'
'If you're trying to provoke me, then you're bound to fail' replied the Uchiha prodigy.
'If I would be able to provoke you it'd mean you're not worth the time. Shinobi must always remain calm. Otherwise he'll be defeated.'
Then their conversation was interrupted by another 'BING'.
'Our turn!' yelled Ino with excitement. 'Come on, lets go!'
'Good luck, lazy bones' Temari gave Shikamaru a small smack in the head.
'Yeah, yeah' replied the lazy ninja. 'Whatever' and with those words he picked up his stick and followed his two teammates who were already at the door.
Their opponents were the team from the Hidden Waterfall. Their leader was a huge man carrying a heavy hammer. Right next to him stood a tiny girl with long, blonde hair, holding a teddy bear in her hands. The last of the three was a guy with a pumpkin on his head and a pack of knives attached to his belt.
'Just brats' announced the guy carrying the hammer with a smile on his face as he observed the Konoha team. 'Shouldn't take too long…'
And with that both teams exited the hall.
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'Kabuto!' silver-haired sound-nin heard a voice coming from behind him.
'What is it, Jiraiya-san?'
'Why is the Oto team here? What does Orochimaru plan this time?'
'What are you talking about? Hidden Sound is still a shinobi village. We have the same right to participate in such tournaments as you. Besides, it's a good opportunity to make the potential clients notice our village. We are still a very young hidden village, in case you have forgotten.'
'Somehow I don't believe you' announced the toad sennin. 'I'll keep my eye on you.'
'Do as you wish, but you'll be only wasting your time. I think you should be worrying about your subordinates. The first test already began. I sure hope they'll be able to pass at least that one. It'd be a shame for Konoha if none of their shinobies would make it to the second test…'
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'I wonder if Ino and her team made it through this test…' said Sakura out loud.
'You shouldn't be worrying about lazy-bones…' replied Temari with a smirk. 'That fatso and the girl are with him, they should be fine…'
'This is getting boring!' announced Naruto. 'When's our turn?'
'A shinobi should be patience' responded Fukamaru, not even looking at the blonde. 'Our team will appear on the screen eventually. This challenge has only just began and even if we were to fight next we would still have to wait for other teams to finish this round before we begin the next, idiot…'
'Those guys aren't acting like teammates at all' Fugato thought to himself as he observed the two, leaf-nins.
Suddenly a loud 'BING' was heard and all the eyes turned to the screen, which shown: 13 and 719.
'Our turn, our turn!' yelled Naruto as he jumped up and down.
'Good luck' Gaara said quietly to the blonde.
'H-hope you w-won't have trouble w-winning' said Hinata shyly.
'Don't worry, we'll kick ass whoever had bad luck of running into us!' and with that reply the loud mouth smiled to the Hyuuga girl which cause her to blush slightly.
Fukamaru observed the whole scene and then turned to Sakura, whispering:
'Is that dope blind?'
'Maybe' replied the pink haired kunoichi. 'But it's better if he would figure that out on his own… I guess.'
'Being a bird brain he is, I doubt he ever will' responded the swordsman. 'Which is kinda sad… that white-eye girl is kinda cute…'
'Leave it for now' asked Sakura. 'We have a match' and with that she walked towards the door with Fukamaru close behind.
'So they're our opponents?' asked the first mist-nin with red hair and hazel eyes, wearing a black t-shirt with a brown waistcoat on it and black pants. He also carrying a huge, metal ring on his back. 'If I'm not mistaken that blonde with the katanas is the missing-nin from Nadare clan, right?'
'Looks like it' replied the girl with long, black hair clipped in a ponytail, wearing a brown and red dress. 'This could be interesting.'
'What's interesting?' asked a boy with black hair and blue eyes, dressed purple and carrying a large scroll on his back. 'Defeating them shouldn't present much problem. Especially with your skills, Kado' at those words he looked at his male teammate.
'Don't underestimate the Nadare' responded the red head. 'Anyways, the blonde with those swords is mine' and with that the three mist-nins headed through the door.
And this concludes this chapter. Hope you liked it. I'm very intrested in your opinion so don't hesitate about leaving a review.
Now on to the character profile. Since one of the reviewers asked for this, this time I'll be doing Hyuuga Hinata. If there's a character you'd like to know better, give his/hers name in your review and I'll make his/hers profile ASAP. Okay, here's the info about the Hyuuga heiress:
Name: Hyuuga Hinata
Name Origins: 'hinata' can be translated as 'in the sun' (a bit ironic, don't you think?)… I couldn't find any meaning behind her clans name
Also known as: Hinata doesn't really have any nicknames and I can't really think of any for her
Age: currently 14
Birth Date: 27th of December
Zodiac: Capricorn
Blood type: A
Height: 148,3 cm
Weight: 38,2 kg
Village: Konoha (Hidden Leaf)
Current rank: gennin
Sensei's: Umino Iruka, Yuuhi Kurenai, Jiraiya
Teammates: Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino
Bloodline limits: Byakugan, Gentle Fist
Used techniques (know so far): Byakugan, Gentle Fist (Jyuken)
First appearance in the manga: chapter #34
I think this concludes this chappie. Thanks for the reviews and hope you like this part.
Best wishes and see you soon.